diff --git a/R/setup.R b/R/setup.R
index cae293ce..4f9d7a12 100644
--- a/R/setup.R
+++ b/R/setup.R
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ rextendr_setup <- function(path = ".", cur_version = NULL) {
   }
 
   update_rextendr_version(path, cur_version = cur_version)
+  update_sys_reqs(path)
 
-  invisible(is_first)
+  invisible(TRUE)
 }
 
 update_rextendr_version <- function(path, cur_version = NULL) {
@@ -27,11 +28,31 @@ update_rextendr_version <- function(path, cur_version = NULL) {
       "You have {.str {cur}} but you need {.str {prev}}"
     ))
   } else if (!identical(cur, prev)) {
-    cli::cli_alert_info("Setting {.var Config/rextendr/version} to {.str {cur}}")
-    desc::desc_set(`Config/rextendr/version` = cur, file = path)
+    update_description("Config/rextendr/version", cur)
   }
 }
 
+update_sys_reqs <- function(path) {
+  cur <- "Cargo (rustc package manager)"
+  prev <- stringi::stri_trim_both(desc::desc_get("SystemRequirements", path)[[1]])
+
+  if (is.na(prev)) {
+    update_description("SystemRequirements", cur)
+  } else if (!identical(cur, prev)) {
+    cli::cli_ul(
+      c(
+        "The SystemRequirements field in the {.file DESCRIPTION} file is already set.",
+        "Please update it manually if needed."
+      )
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+update_description <- function(field, value) {
+  cli::cli_alert_info("Setting {.var {field}} to {.str {value}} in the {.file DESCRIPTION} file.")
+  desc::desc_set(field, value)
+}
+
 rextendr_version <- function(path = ".") {
   stringi::stri_trim_both(desc::desc_get("Config/rextendr/version", path)[[1]])
 }
diff --git a/R/use_extendr.R b/R/use_extendr.R
index 1902772c..24426115 100644
--- a/R/use_extendr.R
+++ b/R/use_extendr.R
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@ use_extendr <- function(path = ".",
     cli::cli_alert_success("Finished configuring {.pkg extendr} for package {.pkg {pkg_name}}.")
     cli::cli_ul(
       c(
-        "Please update the system requirement in {.file DESCRIPTION} file.",
         "Please run {.fun rextendr::document} for changes to take effect."
       )
     )
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
index b44292e5..b7ad3004 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
       use_extendr()
     Message
       i First time using rextendr. Upgrading automatically...
-      i Setting `Config/rextendr/version` to "0.3.1.9000"
+      i Setting `Config/rextendr/version` to "0.3.1.9000" in the 'DESCRIPTION' file.
+      i Setting `SystemRequirements` to "Cargo (rustc package manager)" in the 'DESCRIPTION' file.
       v Creating 'src/rust/src'.
       v Writing 'src/entrypoint.c'
       v Writing 'src/Makevars'
@@ -17,9 +18,28 @@
       v Writing 'src/testpkg-win.def'
       v Writing 'R/extendr-wrappers.R'
       v Finished configuring extendr for package testpkg.
-      * Please update the system requirement in 'DESCRIPTION' file.
       * Please run `rextendr::document()` for changes to take effect.
 
+---
+
+    Code
+      cat_file("DESCRIPTION")
+    Output
+      Package: testpkg
+      Title: What the Package Does (One Line, Title Case)
+      Version: 0.0.0.9000
+      Authors@R: 
+          person("First", "Last", , "first.last@example.com", role = c("aut", "cre"),
+                 comment = c(ORCID = "YOUR-ORCID-ID"))
+      Description: What the package does (one paragraph).
+      License: `use_mit_license()`, `use_gpl3_license()` or friends to pick a
+          license
+      Encoding: UTF-8
+      Roxygen: list(markdown = TRUE)
+      RoxygenNote: 7.2.3
+      Config/rextendr/version: 0.3.1.9000
+      SystemRequirements: Cargo (rustc package manager)
+
 ---
 
     Code
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-use_extendr.R b/tests/testthat/test-use_extendr.R
index cc473c3d..27536aaf 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-use_extendr.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-use_extendr.R
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ test_that("use_extendr() sets up extendr files correctly", {
   expect_true(dir.exists(file.path("src", "rust")))
   expect_true(dir.exists(file.path("src", "rust", "src")))
 
+  expect_snapshot(cat_file("DESCRIPTION"))
   expect_snapshot(cat_file("R", "extendr-wrappers.R"))
   expect_snapshot(cat_file("src", "Makevars"))
   expect_snapshot(cat_file("src", "Makevars.win"))
@@ -46,7 +47,6 @@ test_that("use_extendr() does not set up packages with pre-existing src", {
   expect_false(created)
 })
 
-
 test_that("use_extendr() does not set up packages with pre-existing wrappers", {
   skip_if_not_installed("usethis")
 
@@ -151,3 +151,21 @@ test_that("R/ folder is created when not present", {
   # expect no error
   expect_rextendr_error(use_extendr(), regexp = NA)
 })
+
+test_that("Message if the SystemRequirements field is already set.", {
+  skip_if_not_installed("usethis")
+
+  path <- local_package("testpkg")
+  sys_req <- "testreq"
+
+  desc::desc_set("SystemRequirements", sys_req)
+
+  withr::local_options(usethis.quiet = FALSE)
+  expect_message(
+    created <- use_extendr(),
+    "Please update it manually if needed"
+  )
+
+  expect_true(created)
+  expect_equal(desc::desc_get("SystemRequirements")[[1]], sys_req)
+})